Boost Your Bookings: Expert Tips for Perfecting Your Airbnb Listing with Mark Smith and host Carla #1

Outline

In this transcript, Mark Smith, a super host, provides feedback and suggestions to Carla regarding her hosting listing. He mentions that he has sent Carla a resource called the "Complete Guide to Hosting" and a link to professional photos that could improve her listing. Mark suggests that Carla rearrange the order of her photos and improve the lighting in some of them. He also advises Carla to conduct a Wi-Fi speed test and consider adding a carbon monoxide detector. Mark recommends charging extra for a sofa bed and suggests offering a flexible cancellation policy to attract more bookings. He points out inconsistencies in Carla's listing, such as having a photo of a pet but stating no pets are allowed. Mark also suggests providing more information about Carla in her profile and offering a 3 p.m. checkout time.

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Transcript:

Hello, nice to speak with you, Carla. I'm Mark Smith, a super host. I'm currently in Orange, and it's quite cold. Let me put this away; I've been watching some foxtail on the go. Alright, I'll minimize this. I'll just share this because I thought it might be easier to send messages this way.

You've got this fabulous resource I've sent you called the "Complete Guide to Hosting." I've actually sent you a link to some complimentary photography. It makes a huge difference. Many of your photos are excellent, but a couple could be improved, to be honest. The order of the photos also matters. The first four photos are critical. I've sent you a link for professional photos.

I think the professional photos could help you. They take down everything, so keep these handy. Some of these are magnificent. I go to Bambi Beach all the time. I've got dogs, and I take them there. The lighting here could be better. I'm not sure about this photo. Anyway, these are good. The sunlight in these is fantastic. Again, the lighting could be better in this one. I love how you've styled the place. The professional photos will help.

The yard, do you actually have geese, or are they free-range geese? I didn't check. Again, the lighting in these is just funny. The order and the lighting could be better. I'm not sure I love the view out the window. This is lovely. You've got what's called a dedicated workspace; that's really good. You need to do a Wi-Fi speed test, and be close to the router with your phone. It gives you an extra boost.

Let's have a look. I see you have access to the entire house. King bed, very nice. You can take one on the couch; is that like a sofa bed? I would definitely charge extra for that. Lower the price a bit, but charge extra for the sofa bed. Wi-Fi, you can have the Wi-Fi speed here. I'll send you a link for a carbon monoxide detector; it makes a big difference.

A dedicated workspace, you need Wi-Fi speed because if you have dial-up speed and someone is working from home for a week, they'll be annoyed. I would put one of those mesh systems near your desk and get a land cable. If you've got really fast internet, it makes you stand out. A carbon monoxide detector is important.

I've just added you to a wishlist. Six guests, three beds. Three beds, okay. Queen beds. Two and a half bathrooms. A dedicated workspace. Let's have a look. Okay. Oh, so I think what you're aiming to do is go for school holidays with a three-night minimum. That's very good. I was going to suggest that you might actually be able to get four. If you have such a limited window, try to get someone who will stay the whole time and give a discount for a longer stay. The price seems to be the same whether it's for two people or non-refundable. Ah, okay, refundable, so this is about the cancellation policy.

Personally, I use a flexible cancellation policy, and you're more likely to get a booking, especially when you don't have any reviews. Now, I've got 160 reviews, so you know people are more comfortable. That's the whole point. Put yourself in the shoes of the guest. By the way, the light in this could be better; see that? Now that's... I don't like that. That's a photo of the fence, sorry. I know you're trying to capture the view, but half the photo is the fence. So I'd probably just take that one again. And this one, so you've styled it nicely at night, but it's too dark. So if you get those Exel tastics, pop them on, or take up the offer of the professional photography that I've sent you.

Yeah, so cleaning fee, $250. So I'm wondering if that's what you get charged. Personally, I charge a bit less. It does cost about $250, I get that. If you've got linen, it would probably cost you $200 to clean and $50 for linen, maybe even a bit more. You're probably providing towels for six for free. Okay, that's interesting. No pets, but you've got a photo of your pet. So yeah, see the inconsistency.

No parties, that's good. I think you need one of those carbon monoxide detectors. Mini-fridge, so you've got a full fridge, yeah, plus a mini. Okay, free water, kettle. Okay, you've got a lot going. Free parking on the premises, but not a garage. I actually had someone, they came in a convertible car, it's raining here, and they expected to park their car in the garage because there's a photo of it. But when you look closely, it clearly says parking on the street. We've actually got the locked with our personal items in it, so that's good. Yeah, I think you need one of those carbon monoxide detectors. So you've got June and July. Oh, July, okay. Sorry, I must have looked at June. No reviews yet. I would consider going with a flexible cancellation policy until you get your reviews.

Until you can get a few, then people will book it on the basis that when you've had 160 people, just go ahead with your bookings because they're comfortable. Yeah, Carla's listings. So a bit more about Carla would be good. I'll just show you my profile, fun facts about Mark. I've got 167 reviews, and so on. There's a whole bunch of things here. So I think I'd do a little more of a profile on you. I'd go for a 3 p.m. checkout. You can always offer an early check-in if it's ready early or a late checkout. That goes to getting you good reviews. You've got no pets, but you've got a photo of your pet, so I'd fix that inconsistency.

No parties, that's good. The price seems to be the same, whether it's for two people or non-refundable. Ah, okay, refundable, so this is about the cancellation policy. So personally, I use a flexible cancellation policy, and you're more likely to get a booking, especially when you don't have any reviews. Now, I've got 160 reviews, so you know people are more comfortable. That's the whole point. Put yourself in the shoes of the guest. By the way, the light in this could be better; see that? Now that's... I don't like that. That's a photo of the fence, sorry. I know you're trying to capture the view, but half the photo is the fence. So I'd probably just take that one again. And this one, so you've styled it nicely at night, but it's too dark. So if you get those Exel tastics, pop them on, or take up the offer of the professional photography that I've sent you.

Yeah, so cleaning fee, $250. So I'm wondering if that's what you get charged. Personally, I charge a bit less. It does cost about $250, I get that. If you've got linen, it would probably cost you $200 to clean and $50 for linen, maybe even a bit more. You're probably providing towels for six for free. Okay, that's interesting. No pets, but you've got a photo of your pet. So yeah, see the inconsistency.

No parties, that's good. I think you need one of those carbon monoxide detectors. Mini-fridge, so you've got a full fridge, yeah, plus a mini. Okay, free water, kettle. Okay, you've got a lot going. Free parking on the premises, but not a garage. I actually had someone, they came in a convertible car, it's raining here, and they expected to park their car in the garage because there's a photo of it. But when you look closely, it clearly says parking on the street. We've actually got the locked with our personal items in it, so that's good. Yeah, I think you need one of those carbon monoxide detectors. So you've got June and July. Oh, July, okay. Sorry, I must have looked at June. No reviews yet. I would consider going with a flexible cancellation policy until you get your reviews.

Until you can get a few, then people will book it on the basis that when you've had 160 people, just go ahead with your bookings because they're comfortable. Yeah, Carla's listings. So a bit more about Carla would be good. I'll just show you my profile, fun facts about Mark. I've got 167 reviews, and so on. There's a whole bunch of things here. So I think I'd do a little more of a profile on you. I'd go for a 3 p.m. checkout. You can always offer an early check-in if it's ready early or a late checkout. That goes to getting you good reviews.

Now you should join the Woolongong (Ilawarra) Airbnb Hosts group on Facebook. They have a list of all the local events so you can price for those events and know when to expect high demand. I'll send you a link for that. Hope these tips help. Otherwise, go to the resource center, read everything, and you'll be the best sub-host you can be. Really nice to meet you, Carla. I'd love a five-star rating when you ask after your first guest. They'll ask how your Ambassador (that's me) was. If you have more questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'm here to help. See you.

Please note that some repetitions and unclear sections remain as they are in the original text.

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